Brett Wheeler
July 23, 2020
Rick Brunson
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 14/06/72
- Place of Birth: Syracuse, New York (USA)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 193
- Weight (KG): 86
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Temple (1991–1995)
- NBL DEBUT: 14/04/96
- AGE AT DEBUT: 23
- LAST NBL GAME: 19/10/96
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 24
- NBL History: Adelaide 1996
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Born in Syracuse, New York, Brunson attended Salem High School, becoming the only McDonald’s All-American from Massachusetts in 1991.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Rick Brunson made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 23 years of age. He scored 25 points in his first game.
After losing to Perth in the semifinals in 1995, a series which included a vicious elbow from Chris Blakemore to the head of Wildcats forward Martin Cattalini, head coach Mike Dunlap had lost favour with Blakemore and 36ers MVP Robert Rose, who both left the team and signed with the Canberra Cannons. Long distance specialist Mike McKay also found Dunlap hard to play for a he left to play with the Brisbane Bullets.
Despite this the 36ers recruited well going into the 1996 NBL season, starting with Brunson, who had just narrowly missed out on being drafted to the NBA and then forwards Leon Trimmingham from the Sydney Kings and, funnily enough, Martin Cattalini from the championship winning Perth Wildcats. John Rillie, who was coming off a Rookie of the Year winning season with Brisbane also signed to play alongside Brett Maher and Brunson in the backcourt.
Rick Brunson (Jalens dad) made a massive impact in Australia in 1996. One of the most memorable imports we have had in the league. And only played 1 season for the Adelaide 36ers. https://t.co/Xx91H4Bpts pic.twitter.com/sPLdqGUu64— RANDOM HOOPS (@HoopsRandom) May 15, 2024
Brunson averaged 21.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.5 assists alongside stars Trimmingham (22 points per game), Brett Maher (16 points and 4 rebounds per game), John Rillie (14 points per game) and Davis (13 points and 8 rebounds per game) as the 36ers saw continued good form and yet again, ended the year by making the playoffs. The team finished with a record of 16-10 and after the 6th placed 36ers defeated the 3rd ranked Perth Wildcats in the quarter-finals, they were eliminated in the semifinals in two straight games by eventual champions the South East Melbourne Magic.
This season would also be Dunlap’s last with the team after he requested the team release 36ers legend Mark Davis and focus on the team’s younger players. Since joining the 36ers, Dunlap had been systematically removing the older players from the squad, but the club board instead retained Davis (who went on to play another four seasons) and agreed that Dunlap would not return as coach.
Brunson was named Adelaide 36ers team MVP for the 1996 season.
Rick Brunson played one season in the NBL. He averaged 21.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists in 31 NBL games.
CAREER RANKINGS:
– 18th in assists per game.
– 17th in steals per game.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 24 | Adelaide | 16-10 (6) | 31 | 1,317.0 | 671 | 128 | 200 | 54 | 74 | 76 | 3 | 136 | 116 | 228 | 546 | 42% | 86 | 262 | 33% | 129 | 181 | 71% | 53% | 50% | 38 | Totals | 31 | 1317 | 671 | 128 | 200 | 54 | 74 | 76 | 3 | 136 | 116 | 228 | 546 | 41.8% | 86 | 262 | 32.8% | 129 | 181 | 71.3% | 54% | 50% | 38 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 24 | Adelaide | 16-10 (6) | 31 | 42.5 | 21.6 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 7.4 | 17.6 | 42% | 2.8 | 8.5 | 33% | 4.2 | 5.8 | 71% | 53% | 50% | 38 | Total | 31 | 42.5 | 21.6 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 7.4 | 17.6 | 41.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 32.8% | 2.8 | 8.5 | 71.3% | 54% | 50% | 38 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 38 | 10 | 13 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
Bruson returned to the United States after his season in Adelaide to play in the CBA.
He caught the eyes of the Portland Trail Blazers and signed with them as a free agent by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1997/98.
Brunson found himself playing again in the CBA again at the start of the 1998/99 season but was signed by the New York Knicks mid-season.
He was a member of the 1999 Eastern Conference championship team who went on to lose to a San Antonio Spurs team that included Andrew Gaze.
In 2000/01, he started off with the Boston Celtics, but finished the season with the Knicks again.
He rejoined the Trail Blazers in 2001/02.
He then signed with the Chicago Bulls the next season, splitting between the Bulls and the Toronto Raptors in 2003/04, before moving on to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004/05.
A breakout season in which he averaged a career-high 5.5 points per game landed him a 2005/06 contract with the Seattle SuperSonics, but only appeared in four games due to injury.
On February 28, 2006, the Sonics waived Brunson.
He was subsequently signed by the Houston Rockets, with whom he finished his ninth and final season as a professional basketball player.
Brunson played 337 games in the NBA. He averaged 3.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- September 30, 1997: Signed as a free agent with the Orlando Magic.
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October 20, 1997: Waived by the Orlando Magic.
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October 23, 1997: Signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks.
-
December 2, 1997: Signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers.
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January 21, 1999: Signed as a free agent with the New York Knicks.
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September 28, 2000: Signed as a free agent with the Miami Heat.
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October 20, 2000: Waived by the Miami Heat.
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November 6, 2000: Signed as a free agent with the Boston Celtics.
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November 27, 2000: Claimed on waivers by the New York Knicks from the Boston Celtics
December 21, 2001: Signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers.
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September 18, 2002: Signed as a free agent with the Chicago Bulls.
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August 13, 2003: Signed as a free agent with the Toronto Raptors.
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September 30, 2003: Signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Clippers.
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December 16, 2003: Traded by the Toronto Raptors to the Chicago Bulls for Roger Mason.
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March 15, 2004: Waived by the Chicago Bulls.
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August 3, 2005: Waived by the Los Angeles Clippers.
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August 5, 2005: Signed as a free agent with the Seattle SuperSonics.
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March 2, 2006: Claimed on waivers by the Houston Rockets from the Seattle SuperSonics
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 96% | 99% | 99% | 48% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 38 | 13 | 6 | 2 | ||||||
| Total | 228 | 546 | 41.8% | 86 | 262 | 32.8% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 33 | Houston | PG | 23 | 0 | 215 | 44 | 20 | 33 | 1 | 19 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 21 | 16 | 46 | 35% | 5 | 12 | 42% | 7 | 12 | 58% | 43% | 40% |
| 2005-06 | 33 | Seattle | PG | 4 | 0 | 31 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 63% | 0 | 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0% | 63% | 63% |
| 2004-05 | 32 | LA Clippers | PG | 80 | 39 | 1945 | 437 | 187 | 410 | 23 | 164 | 82 | 7 | 125 | 106 | 166 | 442 | 38% | 48 | 130 | 37% | 57 | 74 | 77% | 46% | 43% |
| 2003-04 | 31 | Chicago | PG | 37 | 0 | 402 | 114 | 37 | 80 | 9 | 28 | 25 | 3 | 33 | 44 | 38 | 101 | 11 | 23 | 27 | 31 | 50% | 43% | |||
| 2003-04 | 31 | Toronto | PG | 3 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50% | 50% | |||
| 2002-03 | 30 | Chicago | PG | 17 | 0 | 196 | 60 | 19 | 36 | 4 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 50 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 54% | 50% | |||
| 2001-02 | 29 | Portland | PG | 59 | 2 | 520 | 125 | 68 | 114 | 23 | 45 | 25 | 2 | 47 | 51 | 45 | 113 | 6 | 11 | 29 | 41 | 48% | 43% | |||
| 2000-01 | 28 | Boston | PG | 7 | 0 | 142 | 26 | 9 | 24 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 16 | 10 | 35 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 33% | 31% | |||
| 2000-01 | 28 | New York | PG | 15 | 0 | 66 | 20 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 46% | 42% | |||
| 1999-00 | 27 | New York | PG | 37 | 0 | 289 | 71 | 27 | 49 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 1 | 31 | 35 | 29 | 70 | 2 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 46% | 43% | |||
| 1998-99 | 26 | New York | PG | 17 | 0 | 95 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 18 | 29% | 29% | |||
| 1997-98 | 25 | Portland | PG | 38 | 10 | 622 | 162 | 56 | 100 | 14 | 42 | 25 | 3 | 52 | 55 | 49 | 141 | 22 | 61 | 42 | 62 | 48% | 43% | Total | 337 | 51 | 4533 | 1090 | 447 | 876 | 85 | 362 | 201 | 21 | 356 | 362 | 397 | 1050 | 38% | 100 | 276 | 36% | 196 | 283 | 69% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 33 | Houston | PG | 23 | 0 | 9.3 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2.0 | 35% | 0.2 | 0.5 | 42% | 0.3 | 0.5 | 58% | 43% | 40% |
| 2005-06 | 33 | Seattle | PG | 4 | 0 | 7.8 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 63% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0% | 63% | 63% |
| 2004-05 | 32 | LA Clippers | PG | 80 | 39 | 24.3 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 5.1 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 5.5 | 38% | 0.6 | 1.6 | 37% | 0.7 | 0.9 | 77% | 46% | 43% |
| 2003-04 | 31 | Chicago | PG | 37 | 0 | 10.9 | 3.1 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 2.7 | 38% | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 87% | 50% | 43% | |
| 2003-04 | 31 | Toronto | PG | 3 | 0 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 50% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 50% | 50% | ||
| 2002-03 | 30 | Chicago | PG | 17 | 0 | 11.5 | 3.5 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.9 | 46% | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 54% | 50% | ||
| 2001-02 | 29 | Portland | PG | 59 | 2 | 8.8 | 2.1 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 40% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 48% | 43% | ||
| 2000-01 | 28 | Boston | PG | 7 | 0 | 20.3 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 1.4 | 5.0 | 29% | 0.3 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 33% | 31% | ||
| 2000-01 | 28 | New York | PG | 15 | 0 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 42% | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 46% | 42% | ||
| 1999-00 | 27 | New York | PG | 37 | 0 | 7.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 41% | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 46% | 43% | ||
| 1998-99 | 26 | New York | PG | 17 | 0 | 5.6 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 29% | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 29% | 29% | ||
| 1997-98 | 25 | Portland | PG | 38 | 10 | 16.4 | 4.3 | 1.5 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 3.7 | 35% | 0.6 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 48% | 43% | Total | 337 | 51 | 13.5 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 38% | 0.3 | 0.8 | 36% | 0.6 | 0.8 | 69% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Philippines - Ginebra San Miguel (1998)
Brunson joined Ginebra San Miguel for the 1998 Philippine Basketball Association season, playing his first season in the Philippines, and he was added as an import for the Governors’ Cup as the team made a late change going into its final game.
Brunson’s Ginebra stint was limited to one appearance on November 6, 1998 against Formula Shell, when he played 43 minutes and scored 21 points while also recording five rebounds, seven assists and one steal, going 3-for-10 on two-point field goals, 3-for-7 from three and 6-for-10 at the free-throw line in the 97–107 loss.
In that same game, Brunson shared the import load with Kenny Payne, and the two combined for 58 points as Ginebra played the matchup under head coach Robert Jaworski during the 1998 Governors’ Cup schedule.
COLLEGE
Brunson played college basketball at Temple during the 1991-92 season and remained with the Owls through 1994-95.
As a freshman in 1991-92, he appeared in 30 games and totaled 147 points (4.9 points per game) while shooting 41-for-128 from the field (32.0%), going 12-for-53 on three-pointers (22.6%), and making 53-of-87 free throws (60.9%).
Across those 30 games, he recorded 79 total rebounds (2.6 per game), with 41 offensive rebounds and 38 defensive rebounds, along with 56 assists, 29 steals, 39 turnovers, and 537 total minutes played.
That 1991-92 Temple team finished 17-13 overall and 11-5 in Atlantic 10 play, placing second in the conference and reaching the NCAA Tournament’s Southeast Region.
In 1992-93, Brunson started 27 of 33 games and increased his production to 463 points (14.0 points per game) on 147-for-371 shooting (39.6%), with 57 made threes on 177 attempts (32.2%) and 112-of-171 at the line (65.5%).
He added 98 total rebounds, 149 assists, and 67 steals while playing 1,205 minutes, and his 4.5 assists per game was noted among the top assist averages in the Atlantic 10 that season.
Within Philadelphia’s Big 5 play that year, he was recognized as the league’s Most Improved Player, reflecting the jump from his freshman numbers to a larger role in the backcourt rotation.
Temple went 20-13 in 1992-93, finished 8-6 in the Atlantic 10 to tie for second, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s West Region final to reach the Elite Eight.
During that NCAA Tournament run, Brunson was credited with playing the full 80 minutes of Temple’s two regional games in Seattle with just one turnover, and he was also noted for a 30-point game that included 10 assists and five steals in that stretch.
In the Elite Eight loss to Michigan, he produced a game-high 21 points with nine assists and three steals.
As a junior in 1993-94, Brunson started all 31 games and totaled 383 points (12.4 points per game), shooting 128-for-346 from the field (37.0%), 50-for-167 from three (29.9%), and 77-of-119 on free throws (64.7%).
He finished the season with 127 rebounds (4.1 per game), 142 assists, and 83 steals, and his 83 steals ranked among the better single-season totals in program history.
Brunson’s season included a 31-point game at Rutgers, and he was listed as Temple’s assists leader in 20 games while also leading the team in steals in 20 games across the schedule.
Temple finished 23-8 overall and 12-4 in Atlantic 10 play to place second, earned an NCAA Tournament bid, and closed the season ranked 12th in both the final AP poll and the final USA Today/CNN poll.
In his senior season of 1994-95, Brunson started all 30 games and posted 500 points (16.7 points per game) while shooting 164-for-448 from the floor (36.6%), hitting 72 threes on 252 attempts (28.6%), and converting 100-of-143 free throws (69.9%).
He finished 1994-95 with 135 rebounds, 123 assists, and 114 steals, and his 114 steals was the top total on the roster in a season where he was also listed as Temple’s scoring leader in 19 games.
His senior year included a 36-point performance at George Washington, and he recorded 28 double-figure scoring games, seven 20-point games, one 30-point game, and three games with 10 or more rebounds.
That 1994-95 Temple team went 19-11 overall and 10-6 in Atlantic 10 play to place second, returned to the NCAA Tournament, and was eliminated by Cincinnati in the West Region first round.
Across his four seasons at Temple, Brunson compiled 1,493 points, 470 assists, and 253 steals, and he remained listed among the school’s career leaders in assists and steals long after his playing days ended.
Brunson graduated from Temple University and after being a suprise omission from the NBA draft he signed to play with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia as his first year as a professional.
AWARDS
- McDonald's All-American (1991)
- Adelaide 36ers MVP (1996)
COACHING HISTORY
Brunson moved into coaching after playing nine seasons in the NBA. After retiring he also worked with Denver Nuggets, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Bobcats and Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant coach.
Related
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